Digitalisation's Impact on Small Business Development: 4Com plc

This project report investigates the impact of digitalization on micro and small businesses, using 4Com plc as a case study. It explores the aims and objectives of digitalization, emphasizing its role in improving communication services and business operations. The report details a project management plan, including considerations of cost, scope, time, and risk. It also presents a work breakdown structure and Gantt chart to illustrate the project's timeline. Furthermore, the report analyzes research data, utilizes appropriate tools and techniques for analysis, and provides recommendations for 4Com plc. The report concludes with reflections on the research process and findings, highlighting the importance of digitalization in achieving business growth and sustainability. The report is a contribution to Desklib, a platform offering students AI-powered study tools and resources.

Managing Successful Business
Project

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Aims and objectives of research............................................................................................1
P2 Project management plan.......................................................................................................3
P3 Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart for providing time frame for completion..........5
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................8
P4 Small scale research...............................................................................................................8
Task 3.............................................................................................................................................10
P5 Research and Data are using appropriate tools and techniques for analysis........................10
P6 Recommendation.................................................................................................................12
Task 4.............................................................................................................................................13
P7 Reflection.............................................................................................................................13
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
Digitalisation is very effective tool for every small and micro firms because it support in
managing entire business operations by making work easy and smooth. This is the process in
which convert information into digital form. It is very supportive in making productions in
appropriate way and improve the quality of products or services (Zott and Massa, 2011). It is
based on digital technology, computer software as well as use of internet for performing
activities with an organisation so that they can reach at potential customers and satisfy to the
target audience. This project report is based on 4Com plc which established in the year of 1999.
it is small business enterprise and its main aim is to provide better communication services in
UK's SME market. Therefore, this firm is concentrating on new ideas and technologies as well as
make decisions for adoptions of all these to make firm effective. This report will help to know
about company's aim, objectives and make management plan as well as work breakdown
structure. There will be analyse a research and data through tools and techniques. It will also
provide recommendation and reflections as per the research.
TASK 1
P1 Aims and objectives of research
At present time, digitalisation is very most and necessary component for every
organisation because it manage all activities and business function without consuming time. It an
essential for small and micro firm as they can develop their organisation in effective manner by
adopting new techniques according to time so digitalisation has positive impact on every
business firm. Advance technology must be adopted by any firm who deals in Information
Technology sector. These techniques are very effective in reducing cost through optimisation of
available resources as well as maintain the communication process so that they can provide any
important information to the people within an organisation (Stokes, 2010). Digitalisation is
consider computer applications, system software, networking, internet banking, web browser and
new information technology that support to the business in managing their activities or
operations it is very effective in achieving particular goals and objectives as well as competitive
advantages. Digital technology is very useful in reducing wastage and time consumptions
because it is fast and forwards technique that make work easy in appropriate manner. Small and
micro firm utilise these tools for achieving growth and sustainability in the company as it helps
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in increasing productivity so that workload and stress can be reduced for the employees.
Advance and digital technologies are helpful in improving or developing the products and
services for the purpose of competing with strong competitors (Wilson, 2010). Project
management can be understood through various components or aspects which are given below:
Project Title: “The impact of digitalisation on development of micro or small-business
firms and this case study is based on 4Com plc.
Aim: This project has main objective is to adopt best strategies regarding digitalisation
for the purpose of creating new innovative products and services as such better communication
services to the target audience which may be new generations. The main aim is to expand
digitalisation at global level and promote it in the market. 4Com is a small business enterprise
which has goal or objectives to adopt new ideas and technologies for improving the standards
and make good position in the market. Modern technology is very effective as it has major
impact on small firms in achieving growth. From this case study, it will support in analysing the
importance of digitalisation and how it helps in surviving among competitors. It support in
developing the economy growth as well as society development in the country. Therefore, 4Com
company have make decisions regarding adoptions of various strategies by considering advanced
technologies. There are several aims and objectives of the project such as:
 To analyse the effects of using digital technology within the firm for developing
society.
 To identify the requirements of alterations in modern technology as well as several
advantages of innovative ideas and technologies and creation in 4Com plc
 For the purpose of renovation by using tools and techniques within the company.
These aims and objectives must be achieved through conducting research and survey
process that helps ins gathering data or information as company formulate a questionnaire
regarding digitalisation and its utilisations in the company.
 How the modern technology can beneficial for the 4Com plc company?
 What are the advantages of digitalisation and its uses in 4Com industry?
 Why modern technology necessary for creation and innovation in 4Com company?
From these questions, researcher can analyse appropriate answers by getting information
or data regarding aims and objectives of the firm (Teece, 2010). These framed questions are very
helpful in making plans as well as policies for achieving competitive advantages or get best
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results or outcomes. Company is required to frame all these questions and focus on developing
the business so that they can improve their products and services. They can increase the economy
growth through digitalisation.
P2 Project management plan
For a successful organisation, plans play important role to be succeed. Planning process
is must be requires for every business firms which helps in allocating available resources among
various activities so that they can achieve their goals or objectives. There may be indispensable
for the business whether it is small or large as planning support to design and manage the entire
workforce as well as business activities in effective manner (Porter and Kramer, 2011). It is
needed to consider all environmental factors which is very important in achieving success and
also requires facts or figures related to firm. Projects management is based on proper planning
which helps in formulating the plan regarding business functions that must running in smooth
and effectively. It generally assist the corporation that give instructions and provide guidelines
towards organisational goals and objectives so that they handle or manage the small business
operations in appropriate way. In this planing process, it defines several duties and
responsibilities in the management regarding this procedures and company hires experts or
experienced person who helps in providing better suggestions and advices for the purpose of
developing the business. Planner must be consider various factors or forces that can be
influences on the entire process so that company have to make appropriate as well as effective
strategies for avoiding all these forces (Peppard and Ward, 2016). Decisions should be
favourable regarding project management and it also based on risk factors that can be created
many barriers or complexities while completions of project report. There are various factors that
can affect on planning process and these are as follows:
Cost: Money is backbone of every firm because without finance, company cannot be run
so it is must be required for running an effective organisation. Money is considering as an
important resource for any firm so that it is necessary to allocate or utilise in effective manner.
This is essentials for managing or maintaining entire business operations because this provide
appropriate funds or financial support to run smooth of the organisation. 4Com company focus
on making future budget for managing the activities and functions regarding the business in
effective manner. Every organisation make their budget which is compulsory for running the
business. The planning is based on costs or financing for the project management. Its main aim is
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to cut overhead and any occurring cost and utilise it in appropriate manner. Company concerned
this factor for utilising available funds and allocate it among various activities for the purpose of
earning maximum output so that they can achieve desired outcomes with minimum resources.
Scope: There should be a scope of project as for the successful organisation, it is requires
to understand about their aim or objectives for accomplishment. It is very effective because it
support in making proper plan and policies as per company's requirements (Laudon and Laudon,
2016). 4Com industry also focus on adopting various strategies and digital technologies for
improving its service quality and serve all customers best so that they will be loyal towards
company's products. This is necessary to satisfy target audience as it support in building good
relations among them and attracts for new innovative products and services.
Time: Time management is very compulsory for attaining predetermined goals and
objectives so that company make sure about their timing and scheduling. They make appropriate
plan for managing their time in effective manner so that they can frame project. Their main
objectives is to achieve more outcomes with limited time period. Time factor is related with
environment as it is changeable in nature so can be change accordingly. It can influence the
business activities. 4Com company should has tom consider the following factor and focus son
adopting new ideas and innovation so that they can satisfy customers needs or wants as well as
meet their desired expectation. They also consider with the time durations of project for the
purpose of attaining set goals and objectives. It should be designed in effective manners so that
objectives can be achieved with set time period.
Quality: It is most important factor that directly affects on the business operations as the
planning is based on company's products and services that must be in qualitative manner. They
have to focus on selling best communication or telephonic services which must be in the form of
qualitative for attracting more individual (Hotho and Champion, 2011). 4Com plc is trying to
create wide network within the market so that they can connect with target audience.
Communication: This is major aspect of any firm as there must be effective
communication or interaction among people so that strong relations can be build. Relationship
helps in making better synergy or connectivity between employees so that they can work
together without any conflicts and this factor is effective in removing barriers with in an
organisation and create healthy environment at workplace.
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Risk: Planning should be based on risks factors as sit is requires to consider this while
making appropriate project. Risk can be occur during the business operations and activities
which is generally related with environmental factor such as internal and external which can
affects on the business (Fitzgerald, 2014). So 4Com plc should consider this factor during
planning process so that they can make effective strategies for surviving from these forces and
achieve goals or objectives.
Resources: This is another important component that should be consider by the company.
They make plan for utilising available resources and allocate them among various activities and
functions for getting more outputs from minimum inputs.
P3 Work breakdown structure and Gantt chart for providing time frame for completion
Work breakdown structure is an essentials for dividing the task among various groups so
that stress can be minimised and extra burden will also reduced on employees. This is very
effective procedures for reducing workloads and create effective environment. In this process,
hierarchical tree structure has considered which is very beneficial in managing the entire team
workforce as company can increase their productivity by dividing tasks or work according to
employees capabilities, skills and knowledge so that they can work without feeling burden or
stressed and perform his task in effective manner (Bonnet, 2014). In break down structure, they
outline the project in appropriate way and also break it down in smaller groups for the purpose of
proper management. Manager play his role in maintaining all work by dividing these into
subtask. It will support to manage entire workforce as 4Com plc focus on distributing the team
with their special work and maintain efficiency for achieving predetermined goals and objectives
in appropriate manner. These structure are very effective in reducing time consumptions as much
as possible and helps in increasing productivity of work within firm. This is based on graphical
representation because it support in managing the whole business activities by presenting it on
the graph form.
4Com plc generally consider the work break down structure for distributing task and
activities among people who are working with in the firm so that maximum targets can be
achieved. They evaluate their employees ability, skills and capacities for the purpose of
distributing work as per their capabilities, interested areas and knowledge for completing work
according to project (Eid, 2013). Company should focus on development of employees and for
this, they appraise the individuals performance as well as measure that how they are contributing
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in increasing productivity as well as they identify training and development needs of employees
by measuring their performance. It is must be required to enhance people skills, Knowledge and
abilities so, company provide learning sessions to the employees and motivate them for
achieving particular goals and objectives (Dezdar, 2011). 4Com company is related with small
business as well as SME sectors therefore, they requires more support for managing or
developing their firm. The work break down structure is very beneficial for achieving growth or
get opportunities to be succeed. HR department has major role in dividing task among various
activities because they know about their worker by analysing skills and capabilities so that
training and development program can be organised for enhancing their knowledge and abilities.
This structure is required for achieving success and manage the each or every task in effective
manner. 4Com can take help of digitalisation because it support managing work and increase
productivity so that they can serve best to the their customers and make them loyal towards
organisation products or services.
Gantt Chart is very effective tool that helps in understanding each task through
representing the information in graphical form. Various companies are there who generally
considered this tools for the purpose of maintain time factors, reduce costs and minimise he extra
work on employees by proper management. It is very effective for managing and controlling the
large business operations for attaining goals and objectives. 4Com company always consider the
Gantt Chart for graphical representation and make effective strategies and plans in which they
divide entire task among people that support in reducing time consumptions from activities so
that tasks can be complete in set time period (Ainin, 2011). This is the responsibility of the
company to manage their task or produce products or services according to customer's needs and
wants.
These tools and techniques are very important sin improving the existing products or
services and provide qualitative items in the market. 4Com plc and consider these techniques for
providing better communication services to the target audience. It also support in recreate the
products by using digitalisation in the production process. Company can use effective market
strategy for managing whole work as well as business operations as per the demand and need of
the customer's in the market.
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Task 2
P4 Small scale research
Research and survey is defined as the process which generally conducts for gathering
information regarding market trends, customers choice, preferences, taste and competitors that
helps in analysing market conditions and company performance according to this. It is very
beneficial for the company as they can meet with desired expectation of the customers as survey
provide information regarding customer's needs and wants and how company can satisfy their
demands. Research also support in identifying behaviour of customers regarding company's
products and services so it can be said that it is very supportive in collecting and adopting
changes according to environment (Cavusgil, 2014). 4Com company also focus on conducting
survey or research process for identifying customers choices behaviours and make strategies for
adopting best technologies to achieve future growth and success. It can be a time consumptions
techniques as tit take more time for make changes in the organisation such as policies,
procedures and employees productivity. There are several tools and techniques that support in
conducting effective research methodologies such as:
Qualitative research: these types of research process is based on historical data which is
in qualitative manner and it generally collected in the form of theoretical form. These data are
very useful for identifying the people's behaviours as it can be gathered through various
techniques such as survey, interviews, perception, observation, experience for getting best
solutions. These data or information can be collected according to name, cultures, religions and
demands or the level of satisfaction about company's products and services so these all are very
effective for analysing market trends and customer's choices and gathered in theoretical form.
Quantitative research: In this research process, data or information are collected in
numerical form which is based on market and customers. These are generally represent in
graphical form so that organisation can manage these in appropriate manner. Company appoint a
suitable person for data analysis and it is not easy to collect information in statistical as well as
mathematical data because it takes more time in analysing but they are beneficial for the
organisation growth and success.
Sampling: In this defines that it is products and services which are selected from large
pool as well as it collect accumulated information. This method is requires for acquiring
feedback from selected data for the purpose of designing as well as organise plans or policies as
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per the choice and preferences of customers. This is very beneficial for the organisation as they
selects limited candidates among several people in order to get information about their
perception regarding company's goods and services. Therefore, company formulates some
questionnaires by framing or preparing questions and distribute all these among selected
candidates for the purpose of understanding as well as knowing their opinion or views.
Researcher can get more effective answers through various questionnaires so that they can make
decisions regarding changes ins policies, plans and procedures. They can modifies their existing
products and services or launch new products according to customer's demand or needs.
For this purpose, there are 30 candidates are selected for acquiring their views or opinion
regarding digitalisation and get feedbacks so that they can implement of modern technologies.
Here are some questionnaire that has been prepared and helps in getting information for making
effective decisions such as:
Questionnaire
Name:-
Gender:-
Age:-
Q1. is digitalisation effective in gaining success of 4Com plc?
A. Yes
B. No
Q2. Is modern technology beneficial for providing long term benefits for 4Com plc?
A. Yes
B. No
Q3. Do you agree with advance technology that it will develop the 4Com industry?
A. Yes
B. No
Q4. Does digital technology and innovation affects on 4Com company's performance?
A. Yes
B. No
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Task 3
P5 Research and Data are using appropriate tools and techniques for analysis
Q1. is digitalisation effective in gaining success of 4Com plc? Frequency
A. Yes 25
B. No 5
Findings: from above questions, it can be finds that digitalisation is very useful stool in gaining
success of the firm as it support in developing the 4Com industry. There are 25 person out of 30
who agreed for this and accepted new technologies but remaining 5 candidates are not agreed
with this.
Q2. Is modern technology beneficial for providing long term benefits
for 4Com plc?
Frequency
A. Yes 20
B. No 10
10
Yes No
0
5
10
15
20
25
25
5
Column C